Just figured I would introduce myself. After sailing on my brothers mantra 7000 I'm hooked and looking to get into sailing a cat because I can tow it and after watching a few videos looks like a lot more fun. I signed up for a class to see how everything goes. Anyone know of any good places around the Chicago area to sail?

I'm taking a cat class at northwestern first before I buy anything. I know the Chicago area is pretty broad but I can tow so weekend adventures are what id be looking for. Any good books I can pick up?

I don't know that part of the north side very well. IIRC the north branch of the Chicago river runs through a golf course on campus and there's a marina or boat ramp in the area where it emptys into Lake Michigan right near the Bahai temple.

You might want to make your first ventures onto the water on something other (smaller) than Lake Michigan but I'm not sure where that would be. Ive seen an awful lot of small boats have to get rescued off of Lake Michigan.

I know in northern Indiana Cedar Lake near Crown point is probably closest to you. Bass Lake and Maxenkuckie are a bit farther east and Freeman and Shafer are farther south. Those are all a trek from the north side.

What about Fox Lake west of Waukegan. That's probably about half an hour from you.

It's been 30 years since I've been to Cedar Lake. It was poor launching then. We took my new "red line" 1984 H16 there for its initial sail. It was the same weekend as a scow regatta, so I got to sail near Buddy Melges.

I took a friend out on my 18 who used to sale on an 18 on Buzzards Bay. He couldn't believe all the safety gear I took but in FL when you go from 16-18 ft the rules get a lot stricter.

Obviously 1 PFD per. Each PFD should have a whistle for signaling permanently attached. Adult PFDs should also have a knife (not required) to cut yourself free if you get tangled.

Flare gun and flares, signaling mirror, dye packs, throwing ring or equivalent, anchor and line and a flashlight if you're out after dark. (Over 18ft requires full running lights). If you have a kicker motor you need an extinguisher. It's my understanding that's whats required.

We also take a dry box with a leatherman(knockoff), extra pins and rings, an extra small block and shackle, cell phone, boat papers, ID or wallet, and car keys. Also have a GPS and a VHF radio and air horn.

Believe it or not most of that stores inside the hulls of my 18. I have 1 box (that floats) appx. 16"x12"x2" and the cushion that is our throwing ring bungied to thetramp.

If you ever want to go out solo you should probably have a righting system. We have a Hawaiian system and a bag.

Not safety equip but you'll want a trap harness too.

By the way, Busse Lake looks like a good place to practice tacking if you get my drift.